We often wonder how exciting it must be to work in a publishing house, so we chatted to Maria Orlando, Export Sales Executive at Nosy Crow, to find out what it's really like to work in children's publishing! Read on to find out more about her role and life at the Nosy Crow HQ! Thanks Maria for your time!
Have you always wanted to work in publishing, or with books?
Yes! I loved reading as a kid and brought a book everywhere I went. I particularly enjoyed reading in English, which is my second language, as it felt even more magical to delve into fictional worlds far away from Italy! As soon as I realised working in publishing was a possibility, I became determined to work in this industry in some way. I started by working in a bookshop, but I’m super happy to be working at Nosy Crow now and helping to bring books to children all over the world.
What are the most exciting tasks that your role at Nosy Crow entails?
It’s really difficult to pick just one aspect, but if I had to, I would say going to bookfairs like London Book Fair and Frankfurt Book Fair. Working in Export that is one of the few times that I get to meet our customers in person and talk about our books face to face! It’s also a great opportunity to be surrounded by other publishers and see what else is happening in the industry.
What is the most exciting part of a new book's journey for you? (e.g. the pitch, reading the proof, seeing the cover artwork etc)
Seeing the cover artwork for the first time never stops being exciting! A book really takes on shape and identity when the cover starts being associated with the text and it all starts feeling very real! It’s going to be a book!
What is your favourite genre to read, and was it the same when you were younger?
I’m a bit of an omnivore. I like literary fiction, queer fiction, fantasy, romance… I’m always open to finding a new favourite book! As a young reader I loved historical fantasy, sci-fi, adventure stories and family stories based on farms and in small towns. I’d still pick up a book set on a farm, so that hasn’t changed!
Which have been your favourite Nosy Crow title(s) so far?
This year we published Secrets of the Snakestone, a thrilling adventure for middle grade readers set in the sewers of late 19th Century Paris, where Zelie has to find her father’s lost locket before a mysterious secret society does… so she can hopefully also find her father! This has been an absolutely highlight of the year for me, it’s fast-paced and cinematic! One of the funniest picture books we published this year is Who Ate Steve: a quirky book about size that is also the simplest detective mystery ever…
Are there any new titles that you are particularly excited about?
We’ll be re-issuing Anna at War by Helen Peters next year with a fantastic new cover by David Dean. It would have made younger me giddy: a book set on a farm, a mystery for a young girl to solve, all set during WWII!
Follow Nosy Crow on Instagram, or on TikTok, or find some of their fabulous books on our website!
